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Why you should always backup your data

Backing up your data is a pretty important process, whether you’re running a business, or simply creating files for personal use at home. Data which isn’t backed up is often lost due to the the following reasons, although this list is not exclusive:

Theft: phones and laptops can be stolen

User error: important files can be deleted by accident

Hard discs can fail

Virus infections can corrupt data

Fire may destroy a building where data is kept (so some back ups could ideally be stored offsite)

How Often Should I Back Up My Data?

Essentially, the more valuable the data is, the more frequently it should be backed up. That precious footage of your baby’s first steps? Ideally saved and backed up in more than one place. Those files relating to the accounts of your business which are essential for tax purposes? Again, backed up regularly, and ideally in more than one location.

How Should I Back Up My Data?

External hard drives can be a good idea, given that they can hold an awful lot of information in one place: currently as much as 1TB, which should be enough for most users’ needs. External hard drives are fairly large and heavy though, which means they have reduced portability, and they need to be kept somewhere safe, ideally in a different location than your main computer or laptop. Other storage technology, including floppy discs, zip drives, CDs, DVDs, memory sticks and memory cards all have their uses, but the technology in these can fail, and memory sticks can easily be lost. Increasingly, users are looking towards storing data in “the cloud” – online giants such as Amazon and Google offer users such a service- and this is extremely handy. However, some worry about the possibility of their sensitive information becoming hacked or leaked.